Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow’s first experience of delivering aid was to drive a Land Rover crammed with food, clothing and medicine from the Highlands of Scotland down to Bosnia. At the time he was a salmon farmer: he had taken just a week’s holiday to do it. When he got back, his family shed was bulging with aid that had poured in from friends and friends of friends. He quit his job, sold his house, and learned to drive articulated lorries. Now, about 20 years later, his charity Mary’s Meals feeds half a million children every day.

But that is not the start of the story. At least, not how Magnus tells it. The real beginning was 10 years earlier, when he was 14, and he went on a pilgrimage to a small village called Medjugorje... (Continue reading at CatholicHerald.co.uk )

The body of St. Bernadette was placed in a chapel in the Church of St. Gildard at the convent in Nevers where she lived for thirteen years. The Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction at Nevers welcome visitors. The body of Saint Bernadette is still shown despite being 132 years old

A sacred relic, believed by some Orthodox Christians to be the belt of the Virgin Mary, is drawing thousands of Russian pilgrims in search of a cure for a myriad of ailments including infertility. But the treasure -- a 2,000 year old cincture woven from camel fur - is also having political resonance.
Russian leaders have called the country's shrinking population a matter of national security and now the influential Orthodox church has joined the fight. It wants to take the relic to pregnancy centres to discourage women from having abortions and save mother Russia by promoting motherhood. The relic came from the Greek monastic complex of Mount Athos.
(Al Jazeera's Neave Barker reports from Samara.)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Here Susan Conroy gives some wonderful insights into prayer in our every day lives. (Visit EWTN Audio Library for many fine podcasts) There is a silent break for about 1.5 minutes half way through this. The second half of the talk then commences.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

DO you believe in life after death? Do you agree that the human soul is immortal, that once it comes into existence it will never go out of existence? If you don’t, have you considered what the future holds for you? Have you the courage to do that, or do you just make glib statements like “Once you die you’re finished”, without considering the implications of what you’re saying? I know that there are people who say they believe that we come back into this world in a new form: they call this reincarnation. I notice that such people always expect to appear again as someone or something that is very beautiful. But suppose you come back as a rat or a woodlouse:yuck!

The Catholic Church teaches that the human soul is immortal, that it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and that it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection (Catechism of the Catholic Church,sect.366) This belief is the foundation on which our belief in heaven, hell, purgatory is based. And the teaching of Jesus as
reported to us in the Gospels is the ground on which our belief stands.

Jesus often spoke of people having eternal life, of people living forever. See the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. And the crowning event of his own life was not his death, but his resurrection, by which he showed that he could overcome death, that death no longer had power over him, and that we could believe him when he promised that we also in our time would overcome death by rising at the end of time. So our belief in life after death is really a way of saying that we believe Jesus is telling us the truth, that he can do for us what he promises to do. He really is the centre of our religion, the leader who inspired the Apostles to go and proclaim that he is the Lord of life who is always alive: they were so convinced of the truth about Jesus’ resurrection that they gave their lives rather than deny it.(Author: Fr. Robert Arthure, Cappoquin, Co.Waterford, Ireland-produced with kind permission)

Sin is the executioner of the good God, and the assassin of the soul. It snatches us away from Heaven to precipitate us into Hell. And we love it! What folly! If we thought seriously about it, we should have such a lively horror of sin that we could not commit it. O my children, how ungrateful we are! The good God wishes to make us happy; that is very certain; He gave us His Law for no other end. The Law of God is great; it is broad. King David said that he found his delight in it, and that it was a treasure more precious to him than the greatest riches. He said also that he walked at large, because he had sought after the Commandments of the Lord. The good God wishes, then, to make us happy, and we do not wish to be so. We turn away from Him, and give ourselves to the devil! We fly from our Friend, and we seek after our murderer! We commit sin; we plunge ourselves into the mire. Once sunk in this mire, we know not how to get out. If our fortune were in the case, we should soon find out how to get out of the difficulty; but because it only concerns our soul, we stay where we are.

We come to confession quite preoccupied with the shame that we shall feel. We accuse ourselves by steam. It is said that many confess, and few are converted. I believe it is so, my children, because few confess with tears of repentance......

He who lives in sin takes up the habits and the appearance of the beasts. The beast, which has not reason, knows nothing but its appetites. So the man who makes himself like the beasts loses his reason, and lets himself be guided by the inclinations of his body. He takes his pleasure in good eating and drinking, and in enjoying the vanities of the world, which pass away like the wind. I pity the poor wretches who run after that wind; they gain very little, they give a great deal for very little profit -- they give their eternity for the miserable smoke of the world.

My children, how sad it is! when a soul is in a state of sin, it may die in that state; and even now, whatever it can do is without merit before God. That is the reason why the devil is so pleased when a soul is in sin, and perseveres in it, because he thinks that it is working for him, and if it were to die he would have possession of it. When we are in sin, our soul is all diseased, all rotten; it is pitiful. The thought that the good God sees it ought to make it enter into itself. And then, what pleasure is there in sin? None at all. We have frightful dreams that the devil is carrying us away, that we are falling over precipices. Put yourself on good terms with God; have recourse to the Sacrament of Penance; you will sleep as quietly as an angel. You will be glad to waken in the night, to pray to God; you will have nothing but thanksgivings on your lips; you will rise I towards Heaven with great facility, as an eagle soars through the air....

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Several people speak movingly about the influence of Medjugorje on their lives. One of the speakers saw Father Slavko dying and became a priest. Medjugorje visionary Ivan speaks from 77:50 in the video.(English translation for all speakers)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Why Medugorje? is a film by Croatian director Josip Loncar. It documents his own personal experience when he visited Medugorje for the first time in 1987. This film very much captures the Spirit of Medugorje from a pilgrim's perspective. As an added bonus narration is by renowned scripture scholar Tony Hickey. After watching this film, you will have many good reasons why you should consider visiting Medugorje.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Two thousand people attended a prayer meeting with Vicka Ivankovic, the visionary of Medjugorje, who has been having daily apparitions of the Virgin since 24th June 1981. The religious event was held in the industrial area of ​​Corridonia, in the company of spouses Pierluigi Enzo and Angela Silence who are linked the seer by a long relationship of friendship.

The Holy Mass was celebrated by parish priest Fr Luciano Montelpare, which turned especially to young people and recalled Pierluigi Gabriel, son of Enzo and Angela, who died last summer in a car accident. "A very good boy, who was able to stay away from the temptations of alcohol and drugs," said the priest. He said that Gabriel should be taken as a model.

Vicka Ivankovic led the recitation of the rosary, inviting everyone present to intensify prayer, to practice fasting, to approach confession, to receive the Eucharist and to read the Bible. Then there was the apparition. Vicka was praying before the statue of the Madonna, when she fell on her knees with her eyes turned up and started talking and gesticulating. Her face was lit by a smile. Then the seer described the content of the encounter with the Blessed Virgin in which she stressed the importance of prayer for her plan reiterating its closeness.

The organization of the large prayer meeting was perfect. A big screen was set up given the presence of many the faithful, outside the building. "The religious event - said the pastor of Corridonia, Don Luciano - was held in an atmosphere of prayer, characterized by peace and serenity." Even in the past when the family Pierluigi had organized meetings with Vicka the response of the faithful was always great. The goal is to let everyone know about the existence of the apparitions. A phenomenon which is certainly very attractive.
According to Vicka the Virgin Mary is especially concerned for young people and families.
(Source:Corriere Adriatico-Daniel Fermanelli)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

George from Lebanon speaks about his experiences in Medjugorje, including being healed from Epilepsy and Asthma. He also shares how he struggled with prayer even after his miraculous pilgrimage, and needed a re-conversion! Something we all must do every day!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

On November 8 (today) Mississippians will vote on Amendment 26. If the pro-life initiative passes, unborn children will finally be afforded the right to life they deserve starting at the moment of conception. Innocent life will be protected, not killed. The measure would also stop cloning. Vote YES to life.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Our Lady's message to Mirjana:

“Dear children, the Father has not left you to yourselves. Immeasurable is His love, the love that is bringing me to you, to help you to come to know Him, so that, through my Son, all of you can call Him ‘Father’ with the fullness of heart; that you can be one people in God’s family. However, my children, do not forget that you are not in this world only for yourselves, and that I am not calling you here only for your sake. Those who follow my Son think of the brother in Christ as of their very selves and they do not know selfishness. That is why I desire that you be the light of my Son. That to all those who have not come to know the Father – to all those who wander in the darkness of sin, despair, pain and loneliness – you may illuminate the way and that, with your life, you may show them the love of God. I am with you. If you open your hearts, I will lead you. Again I am calling you: pray for your shepherds. Thank you.”

Looking edegant in a black suit, Marija immediately catches the attention of the audience which she addresses with a smile: "Through my testimony the intent is to convert everyone." Long applause greeted her on her arrival at the altar. A group of children offered white and red roses. Marija said to one of them " I will put them down as a gift to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to tell her that we want a world of good and that we want to dry her tears with many basins."

Marija placed the roses at the foot of the statue of the Virgin where there were a few baskets of folded cards with the intentions of the faithful. Marija invited the audience to continue in prayer- "We are the outstretched hands of God.”

Silence set in at 17.50, preceded by a long Sshh that interrupts the prayer. It is the moment of the awaited hour. Marija Pavlovic, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, in front of the statue of the Madonna, holding a rosary in her hands, talks quietly with the Virgin. There are around five thousand participants at this time in Verona Sports Palace to share faith and prayer. All three intense minutes melt in prayer to the Virgin . At the end of the apparition Marija, with great simplicity, goes to take her place in front of the microphone

"So many people I met were far from God," said Marija, "away from the sacraments. But when they had the courage to put God first in their lives, everything changed.
Because there is no future without conversion. Today it's all falling apart. If we no longer have God we no longer have hope. " It spares no barbs to lay and religious, "Let the politicians around the world listen. We are no longer upright.. Everything is based on "I give you if you give me." Too many politicians are compromised with drugs and prostitutes. And there's evil in the Church, where they discover incidents of pedophilia. Many times it seems that people are not saved anymore. But, thank God, we all have the possibility of a new life. This is why Christ has sent us his mother. Our Lady's messages are not new. They are already contained in the Scriptures. But the Lady wants to awaken us and change our lives from evil to good. "

Marija said people are invited to live a life respectful of others, without accumulating unnecessary goods, meeting the needs of the poor, the hungry children in the world, and respecting the environment in which we live. And remember, "says Mary, our life is like a flower. It wilts and dies . Perhaps we can live longer but the end is for all. Yet often we act like peacocks, chasing money and success. But everything passes. So accept the invitation of the Madonna. We must look to eternal life, and come to God with her pipes that bring fresh water in the desert of the soul. With her we become seers, her witnesses. Without her, we are nobody. "

Our Lady, Marija concluded, "calls us because we become a blessed hope for the many people who are drifting. We want to be a prayer and hope for those who do not have any more hope. We want to be a blessing for the whole city, for all that abuse and broken families. I saw the Madonna in front of the broken families that have found the courage to say sorry. Jesus died for us and gave us his mother to give us hope and peace that should reign in all of us."

Medjugorje Youthfest Orchestra and Choir performing "Come and fill this temple" at the International Youth Festival in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina (August 2011).

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

There's a place of unity, a place for fellowship,
there's a place where God's people come together,
when the Spirit of the Lord descends and binds our hearts as one
and we're filled afresh with holy power

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

So we wait with open arms, we're hungry for your love,
and we worship now the name of Jesus,
forgive us, Lord, for grieving you and warm our hearts anew
with the fire and zeal of pentecost

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

In the following article John Ritchie looks at the Occupy Wall Street protest from a Christian perspective.

Soon after entering the protest perimeter at Zuccotti Park a piece of communist propaganda was thrust into my hand. The flier starts: “It’s not just Wall Street… capitalism must be destroyed.”

As I continued reading, other lines jumped off the page: “Only communism can live up to the aspirations the Occupy Wall Street movement has tapped into.” Then the tag line calls readers to “join the revolutionary communist Progressive Labor Party.”

I kept walking, tiptoeing around a maze of sleeping bags and clutter.

Ten reasons to reject socialism.

The next sight that caught my attention was a large, dirty flag stamped with the figure of communist terrorist Che Guevara held by a disheveled protester. I approached and saw “Smash the State” printed on it. “I don’t think this is going to remain peaceful,” said the fellow holding the communist Che flag. Meanwhile, a group of agitated anarchists dressed in dark, dirty clothes yelled, “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like.”

Beside the Che flag was a gray-bearded man hawking buttons. “I’m an anarchist,” he offered. Pointing to his buttons, he explained: “These are anti-war, these are racial, these are gender [pro-homosexual], and these are anti-authoritarian.” Other crude signs were displayed amid the eclectic conglomeration of hundreds of disgruntled protesters. “Eat the rich,” said one. Others promoted socialism or environmental “rights.”

Then I stumbled into a discussion circle dedicated to “breaking the gender binary,” which is another way of saying they want to dismantle the differences between male and female. The very idea of manhood and womanhood was offensive to them.

How interesting. Seemingly separate movements all converged for a common revolt. Protesters shared a common contempt for authority, our military, morality, law, order, private property and inequality in general. By chance, I looked up and saw a man holding a megaphone emblazoned with the word “revolt.” Churchill put it well. “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Continue Reading HERE

About Me

This blog will deal primarily with Irish and International political issues. I have long believed that the greater the diversity of comment the stronger our democracy. On occasions analysis may be quite trenchant. I also intend to range over diverse cultural strands of Irish and world society. Sports such as Hurling and Rugby Union -primarily but not exclusively-will feature from time to time.
Other issues -that take my fancy- will surface.